The Rules of Golf app which means you’ll never get caught out
The R&A app gives you quick and easy access to the 25 rules and clarifications, as well as videos and animations, and it’s all on your phone
Who wants to be fumbling around their golf bag when they need a quick answer?
We’ve all found ourselves in a spot on the course where we’ve needed an answer to a Rules query. None of our playing partners can help and it’s a busy day with groups piled up all over the course.
With The R&A no longer printing copies of the Players’ Edition of the Rules in their 2023 update, as they focus on sustainability, they have put a huge effort into updating their Rules of Golf App for your phone and tablet and it’s going to save you time on the course if you ever find yourselves straining for an answer.
Whether it’s reading through the new procedure for taking back-on-the-line relief, or checking out a short animated video on how to take embedded ball relief, the App has been revamped and redefined with regular golfers in mind.
Rules of Golf app: What’s on offer?
– The Player’s Rule Finder: You can swiftly find the answers to the most common circumstances that arise. Bring up the map and click on the part of the course where you are. Whether it’s ‘When is a ball in a penalty area?’ or ‘Loose impediments’, the most searched for teams are laid about before you and selecting one then explains in simple and easy to use text what to do. Relevant diagrams and videos also help you understand what you need to know on the course.
– The ‘Learn’ section: A new ‘Watch Videos’ section includes more than 20 animated shorts which are intended to help you get to grips with the most frequently used rules. You can test your knowledges in updated quizzes with difficulty levels ranging from beginner to advanced.
For those whose Rules knowledge is a bit more advanced, you will be able to access the full Rules at the touch of a button as well as quickly find all the Definitions, Clarifications, Committee Procedures and Rules of Amateur Status.
A news section will also keep you in touch with what’s going on with The R&A’s Rules team, as well as explaining some of the more interesting rules situations that appear on the various tours, and the ability to receive push notifications will mean you’re always up to date.
Claire Hargan, The R&A’s assistant director of Rules, said: “We are encouraging golfers to download the Rules of Golf App so that they can benefit from use of its visual aids, including diagrams and videos.
“In addition, the Player’s Rule Finder feature in the App is specifically aimed at regular golfers as it gives a summary of each Rule to help them learn the basics.
“We believe this is a more intuitive approach and allows modern technology to help golfers play by the Rules of Golf in a more sustainable manner.”
The Rules of Golf App, which can be downloaded from The R&A’s website, as well as the Apple and Google Play stores, is currently available in 17 languages with more to be added throughout the year.
Now have your say
Have you used The R&A’s Rules of Golf App? What do you think of it? Let me know how it’s helped you on course with a tweet.
Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
